Fort Benning is one of the largest army bases situated near the city of Columbus, US. The base extends from Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia to Russell County in Alabama.
The base supports more than 130,000 members of the military and their families. It is spread over 181,626 acres (73,501ha) of land. It is used for providing basic training for the US Army Infantry units.
Fort Benning is the home of the United States Army Maneuver Center of Excellence, the United States Army Armor School, United States Army Infantry School, the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (formerly known as the School of the Americas), elements of the 75th Ranger Regiment, 3rd Brigade – 3rd Infantry Division, and many other additional tenant units.
It is named after Henry L. Benning, a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army during the Civil War.
History
Camp Benning was established in October 1918, after President Woodrow Wilson called for a special session of Congress, culminating Congressional work in the creation of the Revenue Act of 1913, reintroducing an income tax which lowered tariffs, (tariffs-a schedule of rates or charges of a business or a public utility) assigning permanent status in 1918. Initially providing basic training for World War I units, post-war Dwight D. Eisenhower served at Benning from December 24, 1918, until March 15, 1919 with about 250 of his Camp Colt, Pennsylvania, tankers who transferred to Benning after the armistice.:72 On December 26, 1918, a portion of the Camp Polk (near Raleigh, North Carolina) tank school was transferred to Camp Benning "to work in conjunction with the Infantry school". Camp Benning tank troops were moved to Camp Meade from February 19–21, 1919
In February 1920, Congress voted to declare Camp Benning a permanent military post and appropriated more than $1 million of additional building funds for the Infantry School of Arms, which later became the Infantry School. By the fall of 1920, more than 350 officers, 7,000 troops and 650 student officers lived at Camp Benning. The post was renamed to Fort Benning in 1922, after Henry L. Benning, a general in the army of the Confederate States of America. In 1924, Brig. Gen. Briant Wells became the fourth commandant of the Infantry School and established the Wells Plan for permanent construction on the installation, emphasizing the importance of the outdoor environment and recreation opportunities for military personnel. During Wells' tenure, the post developed recreational facilities such as Doughboy Stadium, Gowdy Field, the post theater and Russ swimming pool. Doughboy Stadium was erected as a memorial by soldiers to their fallen comrades of WWI. One of the Doughboys' original coaches was a young captain named Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Lt. Col George C. Marshall was appointed assistant commandant of the post in 1927 and initiated major changes. Marshall, who later became the Army Chief of Staff during World War II, was appalled by the high casualties of World War I caused, he thought, by insufficient training. He was determined to prevent a lack of preparation from costing more lives in future conflicts. He and his subordinates revamped the education system at Fort Benning. The changes he fostered are still known as the Benning Revolution. Later in his life, Marshall went on to author the Marshall Plan for reviving postwar Europe and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1953.
World War II
During World War II Fort Benning had 197,159 acres (797.87 km²) with billeting space for 3,970 officers and 94,873 enlisted persons. Among many other units, Fort Benning was the home of the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion (United States), their training began in December 1943 and was an important milestone for black Americans, as was explored in the first narrative history of the installation, Home of the Infantry. The battalion, later expanded to become the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, was trained at Fort Benning but did not deploy overseas and never saw combat during World War II. During this period, the specialized duties of the Triple Nickel were primarily in a firefighting role, with over one thousand parachute jumps as smoke jumpers. The 555th was deployed to the Pacific Northwest of the United States in response to the concern that forest fires were being set by the Japanese military using long-range incendiary balloons. The 82nd Armored Reconnaissance Battalion was activated July 15, 1940 and trained at the Fort. The 17th Armored Engineer Battalion became active and started training July 15, 1940.
The 4th Infantry Division, first of four divisions committed by the United States to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, reorganized and completed its basic training at Fort Benning (Sand Hill and Harmony Church areas) from October 1950 to May 1951, when it deployed to Germany for five years.
The Airborne School on Main Post has three 249-foot (76 m) drop towers called "Free Towers." They are used to train paratroopers. The towers were modeled after the parachute towers at the 1939 World's Fair in New York. Only three towers stand today; the fourth tower was toppled by a tornado on March 14, 1954.
During the spring of 1962 General Herbert B. Powell, Commanding General, U.S. Continental Army Command, directed that all instruction at the Infantry School after July 1 reflect Reorganization Objective Army Division structures. Therefore, the Infantry School asked for permission to reorganize the 1st Infantry Brigade under a ROAD structure. Instead, the Army Staff decided to inactivate the Pentomic-structured brigade and replace it with a new ROAD unit, the 197th Infantry Brigade, which resolved a unit designation issue. With the designation 1st Infantry Brigade slated to return to the 1st Infantry Division when it converted to ROAD, the existing unit at Fort Benning required a new title. The staff selected an infantry brigade number that had been associated with an Organized Reserve division that was no longer in the force. For the new ROAD brigade at Fort Benning, Georgia, the adjutant general on August 1, 1962 restored elements of the 99th Reconnaissance Troop, which thirty years earlier had been organized by consolidating infantry brigade headquarters and headquarters companies of the 99th Infantry Division, as Headquarters and Headquarters Companies, 197th and 198th Infantry Brigades.
Fort Benning was the site of the Scout dog school of the United States during the Vietnam War, where the dogs trained to detect ambushes in enemy terrain got their initial training, before being transferred to Vietnam for further advanced courses.
The School of the Americas based at Fort Gulick (Panama) was relocated to the base in 1984, after the Panama Canal Treaty. It was further renamed as the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation.
The Base Realignment and Closure Committee (BRAC) 2005 decided to create the Maneuver Center of Excellence (MCOE), a complete training installation, at Fort Benning. The cost of the project was about $3.5bn.
The project involved establishing an MCOE by relocating the Armor Center and School from Ft. Knox, consolidating seven local reserve units into an Armed Forces Reserve Center and relocation of equipment from Ft. Gillem and Drill Sergeant School and also from Ft. Jackson.
The MCOE project was initiated in late 2008 and completed in September 2011. The construction contract was awarded to McCarty Corp.
Construction of the large US Army base
A new fitness centre was opened at Fort Benning in July 2011. It was constructed at a cost of $1.8m. It involved the construction of a 6,000ft2 fitness centre equipped with 11 flat-screen TVs, 20 computers as well as internet service. It also has a theatre room and pool tables.
In September 2009, Turner Construction was awarded the design build contract worth $333.4m to construct a 745,000ft2 new hospital building at Fort Benning. The building was originally expected to be completed by summer 2013 but got delayed due to bid protests and legal action between the Savannah District of the US Army Corps and Turner Construction.
The dispute was resolved in July 2010 and Turner Construction broke ground for the construction of the hospital in May 2011. The project is now expected to be completed by January 2014.
The total cost of the project is expected to be $403m, of which $278m will be funded by Defense Health Program (DHP) and $125m by Army BRAC funds.
In August 2009, Carothers Construction was awarded with a $32.5m design build contract for the construction of an 185,500ft² vehicle maintenance instruction facility (VMIF) at the base.
Garrison and technology at Fort Benning
The garrison of Fort Benning includes the US Army Armor School, Infantry School, Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, 75th Ranger Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division and 13th CSSB.
It also includes the US Army Maneuver Center of Excellence, which consists of Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Forces Command (FORSCOM) and Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).
Raytheon provided the US Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiment (AEWE) based at Fort Benning with first hybrid cellular capability that can be used for soldier networks.
In November 2011, FlexEnergy installed Flex Powerstation FP250 at the base. The FP250 is designed to capture methane from a landfill site and convert it into electricity at the base. The cost of the project was $1m.
In the same month, Cubic Applications was awarded a contract worth $458m for an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract for mission support services to MOCE based at Fort Benning.
Commanding Generals of Fort Benning, GA
-MG Austin S Miller July 2014 – present
-MG H.R. McMaster Jun 2012 – July 2014
-MG Robert B. Brown Nov 2010 – Jun 2012
-MG Michael Ferriter Jun 2009 – Nov 2010
-MG Michael Barbero Nov 2008 – Jun 2009
-MG Walter Wojdakowski Aug 2005 – Nov 2008
-MG Benjamin C. Freakley Jul 2003 – Aug 2005
-MG Paul D. Eaton Oct 2001 – Jun 2003
-MG John M. Le Moyne Sep 1999 – Oct 2001
-MG Carl F. Ernst Jul 1996 – Sep 1999
-MG John W. Hendrik Sep 1994 – Jul 1996
-MG Jerry A. White Oct 1991 – Sept 1994
-MG Carmen J. Cavezza Jun 1990 – Oct 1991
-MG Michael F. Spigelmire Sep 1988 – Jun 1990
-MG Kenneth C. Leuer Jun 1987 – Sep 1988
-MG Edwin H. Burba Jr. Jan 1986 – Jun 1987
-MG John W. Foss Mar 1984 – Jan 1986
-MG James J. Lindsay Jul 1983 – Mar 1984
-MG RL "Sam" Wetzel Aug 1981 – Jul 1983
-MG David E. Grange Jr. Jun 1979 – Aug 1981
-MG William J. Livsey Jul 1977 – Apr 1979
-MG Willard Latham Aug 1975 – Jul 1977
-MG Thomas M. Tarpley Feb 1973 – Aug 1975
-MG Orwin C. Talbott Sep 1969 – Feb 1973
-MG George I. Forsythe May 1969 – Aug 1969
-MG John M. Wright Jr. Jul 1967 – May 1969
-MG Robert H. York Jul 1965 – Jul 1967
-MG John Heintges Aug 1964 – Jul 1965
-MG Charles W. G. Rich Feb 1963 – Aug 1964
-MG Ben Harrell Aug 1961 – Feb 1963
-MG Hugh P. Harris Apr 1960 – Jul 1961
-MG Paul L. Freeman May 1958 – Apr 1960
-MG Herbert B. Powell Aug 1956 – Apr 1958
-MG George E. Lynch May 1956 – Aug 1956
-MG Joseph H. Harper Jun 1954 – May 1956
-MG Guy S. Meloy Jr. Jan 1953 – June 1954
-MG Robert M. Young Jun 1952 – Jan 1953
-MG John H. Church Mar 1951 – May 1952
-MG Withers A. Burress Jul 1948 – Jan 1951
-MG John W. O'Daniel Jul 1945 – June 1948
-MG Fred L. Walker Jul 1944 – Jul 1945
-MG Charles H. Bonesteel Sep 1943 – Jun 1944
-MG Leven C. Allen Feb 1942 – Sep 1943
-BG Omar N. Bradley Mar 1941 – Feb 1942
-BG Courtney H. Hodges Oct 1940 – Mar 1941
-BG Asa L. Singleton Oct 1936 – Aug 1940
-BG George H. Estes Sep 1933 – Sep 1936
-MG Campbell King May 1929 – May 1933
-BG Edgar T. Collins Mar 1926 – May 1929
-BG Briant H. Wells Nov 1923 – Mar 1926
-MG Wlter H. Gordon Sep 1920 – Nov 1923
-MG Charles S. Farnsworth Apr 1919 – Jul 1920
-COL Henry E. Eames Oct 1918 – Apr 1919
Mission
Fort Benning and The Maneuver Center provide Agile, Trained, Adaptive, and Ready Soldiers and Leaders for an Army at War, while developing Future requirements for the Individual Soldier and the Maneuver Force, and providing a World Class Quality of Life for our Soldiers and Army Families!
The Infantry School transforms civilians into disciplined Infantrymen that possess the Army Values, fundamental Soldier skills, physical fitness, character, confidence, commitment, and the Warrior Ethos to become adaptive and flexible Infantrymen ready to accomplish the mission of the Infantry.
The Armor School educates, trains, and inspires America's Armored Soldiers and Leaders for a lifetime of service to the Nation; prepared to close with & destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver as part of a combined arms team.
Post Information
There are four main cantonment areas on Fort Benning: Main Post, Kelley Hill, Sand Hill, and Harmony Church.
Main Post
Main Post houses various garrison and smaller FORSCOM units of Fort Benning such as 14th Combat Support Hospital and 11th Engineer Battalion FORSCOM as well as a number of TRADOC-related tenants, e.g. the Officer Candidate School, the Non-Commissioned Officers Academy, and the Airborne School. McGinnis-Wickham Hall (formerly known as Infantry Hall) is the post headquarters and Maneuver Center of Excellence. Adjacent is a monument, the Ranger Memorial.
Kelley Hill
Kelley Hill houses the 3d Armored Brigade Combat Team of the 3d Infantry Division (Mechanized), the parent unit of two combined armed battalions; 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 2d Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, as well as 3d Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Regiment, and two support battalions; 3-3 BSTB, and 203d BSB.
Sand Hill
Sand Hill is the primary location of the 198th Infantry Brigade, responsible for training Infantry One Station Unit Training (OSUT), and the location of the 30th AG Reception Battalion at Fort Benning. Home of 1-19 Infantry Battalion 2-19 Infantry Battalion, 1-50 Infantry Battalion, 1-46 Infantry Battalion, 2-47 Infantry Battalion, 3-47 Infantry Battalion 2-58 Infantry Battalion, and 2-54 Infantry Battalion.
Harmony Church
Harmony Church area houses the 194th Armor Brigade, 316th Cavalry Brigade US Army Armor School and the first phase of Ranger School, 4th Ranger Training Battalion (ARTB). After the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission's decision to create the Maneuver Center of Excellence (MCoE), Harmony Church is now the new home of the US Army Armor School.
Units and tenant units at Fort Benning
194th Armor Brigade, TRADOC
-1st Battalion, 46th Infantry Regiment
-2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment
-1st Battalion, 81st Armor Regiment
-5-15 Cavalry, 15th Cavalry Regiment
-30th AG Reception Battalion, TRADOC
198th Infantry Brigade, TRADOC
-1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment
-2nd Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment
-1st Battalion, 50th Infantry Regiment
-2nd Battalion, 58th Infantry Regiment
-2nd Battalion, 54th Infantry Regiment
199th Infantry Brigade, TRADOC
-2nd Battalion, 11th Infantry Regiment (Infantry Basic Officer -Leadership Course (IBOLC))
-2nd Squadron, 16th Cavalry Regiment (Armor Basic Officer Leadership Course (ABOLC))
-3rd Battalion, 11th Infantry Regiment (Officer Candidate School)
-3rd Battalion, 81st Infantry Regiment (Provost Battalion, IMSO and MCoE Band)
-Henry Caro Noncommissioned Officer Academy (NCOA)
-Maneuver Senior Leaders Course (M-SLC)
-Advanced Leaders Course (Infantry) (IN-ALC)
-Advanced Leaders Course (Armor) (AR-ALC)
-Warrior Leader Course (WLC)
Ranger Training Brigade, TRADOC
-4th Ranger Training Battalion
-HHC, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment (Jumpmaster School)
-HHC, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment Pathfinder School[40]
-1st Battalion, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment (Airborne School)
-Silver Wings Command Exhibition Parachute Demonstration Team
-Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course (RSLC)
3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division (FORSCOM)
-1st Battalion, 15th Infantry
-2nd Battalion, 69th Armor
-3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry
-1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery
-203rd Brigade Support Battalion
-3-3 Brigade Special Troops Battalion
14th Combat Support Hospital, 44th MEDCOM
11th Engineer Battalion
-HHC Engineer Company
-FSC Engineer Company
-60 Engineer Company
-63 Engineer Company
-362nd Engineer Company
Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, TRADOC
75th Ranger Regiment, (USASOC)
-3rd Ranger Battalion
-1st Ranger Underwater Warfare Detachment (RUWD)
-Regimental Special Troops Battalion (RSTB)
Martin Army Community Hospital, AMEDD
Love Dental Clinic, DENTAC, United States Army Dental Command
U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, USAAC
17th Air Support Operations Squadron (18th ASOG), USA
Future
Fort Benning was selected by the Base Realignment and Closing Commission to be the home of the new Maneuver Center of Excellence (MCoE). This realignment co-located the United States Army Armor Center and School, formerly located at Fort Knox, Kentucky, with the Infantry Center and School. This transformation was completed September 2011.
Controversy
Between 1963 and 1964, in Fort Benning, Luis Posada Carriles received CIA training in explosives and sabotage.
In 1984, following the signing of the Panama Canal Treaty, the School of the Americas relocated from Fort Gulick (Panama) to Fort Benning. After criticism concerning human rights violations committed by a number of graduates in Latin America, the school was renamed Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation.
In 1988 Timothy McVeigh, Terry Nichols and Michael Fortier (the Oklahoma City bombing conspirators) met while in training at Fort Benning